Addlink S91 2TB PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe M.2 2230

The Addlink S91 is a 2TB M.2 2230 SSD built for Steam Deck, ROG Ally, and compact laptops. It hits 5000 MB/s reads and 3200 MB/s writes, which is strong for the 2230 form factor. At $309 it's not cheap, but 2TB 2230 drives are rare, and owners rate it 4.7 stars. If you need big storage in a tiny slot, this is one of the best options right now.

The 5000 MB/s read speed puts this drive in solid territory for PCIe 4.0, though it's not going to threaten flagship 2280 drives that push 7000 MB/s or more. In our database, the S91 lands around the 70th percentile for speed, which means it's better than most drives out there but not in the top tier. For a 2230 drive, that's actually pretty good. The form factor usually forces compromises, and Addlink managed to keep reads respectable.

The 3200 MB/s write speed is where you'll notice the gap if you're moving huge files around. It's fine for game installs and everyday use, but if you're copying a 100GB Steam library from an external drive, you'll wait a bit longer than you would on a high-end 2280. Random performance sits around the 61st percentile, which is average. For gaming, that's mostly fine. Game loads are dominated by random reads, and while this isn't a chart-topper there, it's not going to feel sluggish in a handheld. The DRAM-less design means the drive leans on HMB, and in practice that works well enough for gaming workloads. Just don't expect it to win any synthetic benchmark races.

The Western Digital Black SN850X is the obvious desktop alternative. It's a 2280 drive with much higher speeds, often cheaper per gigabyte, and it has DRAM. But it won't fit in a Steam Deck or ROG Ally without an adapter, and adapters in handhelds are a bad idea. The SN850X is the better buy if you have a desktop or a laptop with a full-size M.2 slot. The S91 exists for the devices where the SN850X physically cannot go.

The Samsung 9100 PRO and Kingston FURY Renegade G5 are also 2280 drives, and they're in a completely different performance class. If you're building a desktop and you want the fastest storage possible, those are the drives to look at. The Crucial T500 is another strong 2280 option that often undercuts Samsung on price. None of these fit in a handheld, so the comparison is really about what device you're upgrading. If it's a handheld or a thin laptop with a 2230 slot, the S91 is one of the few 2TB options available. If it's a desktop, buy a 2280 and get more speed for less money.

Pricing is a bit of a mixed bag here. The US listing shows $309, which is not cheap for a 2TB drive. You can get a 2TB 2280 PCIe 4.0 drive for less, sometimes a lot less. But you're paying for the form factor. 2230 drives are a niche product, and 2TB 2230 drives are even more niche. The supply is limited, and prices reflect that. In our database, affordability lands at the 34th percentile, which means this drive is more expensive than most of its peers.

That said, value isn't just about the sticker price. If you have a Steam Deck and you want 2TB of internal storage, your options are limited. The S91 delivers good performance, a solid warranty, and high user satisfaction. Owners consistently mention good value for money in reviews, which suggests that once people use it, they feel okay about what they paid. The CAD listing at $450 is harder to judge without knowing the exchange rate at the time, but it's in line with the US price for this category.

The Addlink S91 is a 2TB M.2 2230 drive aimed squarely at handheld gamers and compact laptops. If you've got a Steam Deck or ROG Ally with a tiny 256GB or 512GB drive and you're tired of uninstalling games every other week, this is the kind of upgrade that changes how you use the device. The 2230 form factor is the key here. Most desktop SSDs are 2280, which is longer and won't fit in handhelds. Addlink crammed 2TB into the short 30mm stick, and that's the whole pitch.

Spec-wise, it's a PCIe 4.0 x4 drive with rated reads up to 5000 MB/s and writes up to 3200 MB/s. It's DRAM-less, which is normal for 2230 drives since there's no room for a DRAM chip. Instead it leans on HMB, or host memory buffer, which borrows a slice of your system RAM to keep things snappy. TLC NAND and a 5-year warranty round out the package. Nothing exotic, but the right ingredients for this niche.

Who's it for? Steam Deck owners who want a big library without juggling microSD cards. ROG Ally users who want faster load times than the stock drive. And anyone with a thin laptop or tablet that only accepts 2230 drives. It's not a desktop performance monster, and it doesn't try to be. It's a practical upgrade for small devices, and that's exactly where it shines.

If you have a desktop or a laptop with a full-size M.2 2280 slot, skip this drive. You'll get better performance and a better price from something like the WD Black SN850X or Crucial T500. The S91's entire reason to exist is the 2230 form factor, and if you don't need that, you're paying a premium for a constraint that doesn't apply to you.

Also skip it if you're on a tight budget and can live with less storage. A 1TB 2230 drive will cost significantly less, and if you're okay managing your game library or using a microSD card for older titles, you can save a chunk of money. The 2TB capacity is the main draw here, and if you don't need that much space, the value proposition weakens considerably.

For Steam Deck and ROG Ally owners, this is one of the easiest recommendations we can make. The 2TB capacity solves the biggest pain point of handheld gaming, and the performance is more than enough for game loads. Installation is straightforward, and the 5-year warranty gives you peace of mind. The user reviews back this up. People love this drive in their handhelds, and the 4.7-star rating across 271 reviews is a strong signal.

For laptop users, it's a bit more nuanced. If your laptop only accepts 2230 drives, the S91 is a solid choice, though you should check whether your laptop can take a 2280 first. Many thin laptops use 2230, but some have room for the longer stick. If you can fit a 2280, you'll get better performance and likely a better price. The S91 is a specialist drive, and it's at its best when the form factor is non-negotiable.